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index-February-2007-1.html English News Blog for  Venezuela News Blog February Archive 

Traditional light bulbs phasing out

By Crissy at 02/26/07 05:46

There are many places that are requiring the sale of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs exclusively. The incandescent bulb may soon be a thing of the past. Venezuela is already phasing out the traditional light bulb.

Original source: Edmonton Sun. Alberta plans no bulb ban

No cohesion in Venezuela

Many Venezuelans feel that Hugo Chavez has taken the country hostage. They feel that he has committed unspeakable crimes against the country. Fidel Castro must have been his idol.

Original source: La Historia Paralela. A disjointed political puzzle

Argentina's president visits Venezuela

On February 20 Argentinean President Néstor Kirchner left to visit Venezuela to meet with Hugo Chavez. They are going to initial a number of economic agreements.

Original source: El Universal. Argentina, Venezuela strengthened ties

Chavez to grant asylum

Funny. Someone thinks Hugo Chavez is filled with good will. Relatives of the hostages released by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, or FARC, want Venezuela to grant them asylum. They also want President Chavez to be the middleman in this extension of safe haven. The goal is for Chavez to bring the Colombian government and FARC closer.

Original source: El Universal. Venezuela asked to receive FARC ex prisoners

It's the sugar!

Mothers everywhere have always known what happens to children on a sugar high. For a while science tried to convince them that there was no link. Now John Hoebel, a psychologist at Princeton University, along with a team of physiologists from the University of the Andes in Venezuela, have shown that rats eating a 25% sugar diet go through withdrawals similar to those in people withdrawing from morphine or nicotine.

Original source: Triple Pundit. Recipe for Student Health and Success

Is Chavez's Venezuela the new Cuba

Those who have lived though Castro's Cuba see the same thing happening in Chavez's Venezuela. Those are pretty valid concerns now that Chavez has been granted an 18-month power to enact laws by decree. The people who oppose Chavez compare "communal councils" in Venezuela to Cuba's Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

Original source: Kansas.com. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. kansas. com/ mld/ kansas/ news/ world/ 16594502. htm, anchor: Experts wary of Chavez's `21st century socialism']

Venezuelan economy

Venezuela is a study in contradictions. Hugo Chavez is wholly against capitalism and yet Venezuela's economy is booming.

Original source: MiamiHerald.com. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. miami. com/ mld/ miamiherald/ business/ 16611154. htm, anchor: Contradictions in Venezuela]

Chavez trying to slow inflation

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is going to push for higher interest rates to try to slow inflation and curb spending. The first 11 months of 2006 brought in record revenue so it's been a struggle to contain inflation. To lower the cost of food for consumers, agricultural products will be exempt from paying income tax.

Original source: Bloomberg. Chavez Plans to Slow Consumer Spending, Inflation

Is Chavez ruining Venezuela?

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has expressed concern that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is irreparably damaging Venezuela. In December, Mr. Chavez was elected to a second six-year term as President; and he was also recently granted the 18-month power to rule by decree. Even though Chavez is very outspoken in his dislike for U.S. President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice is hoping Venezuela and the U.S. will have good relations again as they have in the past.

Original source: Voice of America. Rice Accuses Chavez of Ruining Venezuela

No fair journalism in Venezuela

In 2006, Venezuela was one of the seven worst places for fair journalism in Latin America. Both Venezuelan and Bolivian governments use the media for political power. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has threatened to not renew media licenses and takes measures to regulate the media in other ways if it doesn't present his side of things in the best light.

Original source: El Universal. Venezuela among the worst for journalism